CAF sanctions three federations for CHAN misconduct
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) sanctioned Zambia, Kenya, and Morocco for various breaches of its regulations during the ongoing African Nations Championship.
In a statement published on Wednesday, CAF’s disciplinary board confirmed it had issued warnings to Kenya and charged fines totalling $60,000 for the three national associations following separate incidents.
CAF fined Zambia a 5,000 U.S. dollar fine after the Football Association of Zambia failed to present their head coach at the pre-match press conference ahead of their opening fixture against the Democratic Republic of Congo. CAF said this was a breach of its media regulations, which mandate the head coach to attend such engagements.
The football governing body levied its heaviest penalty, a 50,000 U.S. dollar fine, on the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) for safety and security lapses during Kenya’s group-stage match against Morocco at the Moi International Sports Centre in Kasarani. CAF cited multiple failures to adhere to security protocols, including inadequate perimeter control and insufficient road closures around the stadium.
CAF warned that any further breaches by the Kenyan authorities could result in the national team being forced to play home fixtures at a neutral venue. The FKF was instructed to increase security personnel and improve logistical planning on match days.
Kenya responded by pressing its fans to self-regulate and protect the nation’s hosting credentials. Sports Minister Salim Mvurya later ordered the establishment of official fan zones across Nairobi to ease congestion around stadiums.
The Moroccan Football Federation received a 5,000 U.S dollar fine, with half that amount suspended, for the conduct of its players during the same match against Kenya. The suspended portion of the fine will be waived if no further disciplinary issues arise for the remainder of the tournament.
CAF gave all three federations 60 days to pay their fines.
